Fixing the Potholes

Ken Picard's blog post about problems at the Bolton Potholes swimming hole has generated quite a bit of discussion on this blog, some of it civil, some of it not. Many words have been exchanged, but, as they say, a picture is worth a thousand of them. So here's one snapped yesterday by local Marty Dustin Kenney, showing the cars lined up on the side of the road near the Potholes.

Incidentally, I spoke yesterday with R.J. Vallie, chairperson of the Bolton Selectboard. He said 14 residents showed up at Monday night's special selectboard meeting — which, contrary to Ken's blog post, had originally been intended as a meeting about taxes — to talk about the problems at the Potholes.

Vallie told me that the selectboard of the 900-resident town has heard some good suggestions, and is weighing its options, but that it will likely resort to ticketing and towing cars that are parked illegally in the travel lane of the road. Visitors are being asked to park at the Smilie Elementary School just down the hill.

He added that no one wants to shut the site down. "I don't hear anyone really saying, 'This is a terrible place, let's close it,'" he said. "I see people wanting respectfulness, wanting others to respect their property."

More by Cathy Resmer

Burlington's Turning Point Center is a refuge for Vermonters who are trying to find their way out of drug dependence. In the stairwell leading to the center, a mural depicts a giant hand reaching down to a solitary slouching figure. Just outside the center's door at the top of the stairs, is another message: "You are no longer alone."

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